Car-coupling



'(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. BQNNANS. GAR GOUPLING.

Pate'nted May 8, 1894.

2 sheets--sheet 2.

B. BoNNANs.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 519,600. Patented May 8,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT 'Erica BENJAMIN BONNANS, OF NORTH TEMESCAL, CALIFORNIA.y l

,CAR-couPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,600, dated May 8, 1894.

Application filed December '7, 1893. Serial No. 493,040. (No model.)

To all whom, it my concern: y

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN BoNNANs', of North lemescahin the countyof Alameda and State of California, Vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a f ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make vand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

.My invention relates to that class of carcouplers known as link-and-pin couplings, and 1t consists of various improvements, herelnafter described and claimed, that are intended to make devices of this nature automaticl in operation, in so far as the act of coupling is concerned, and readily separable from a safe distance, through the agency of a simple lever, the whole comprising but a few parts, `easily constructed, not liable to get out of order, and suitably protected from the weather and other noxious influences.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

in two sheets, for a detailed description of the said invention,-Figure 1 is a side elevat1on,partlyin section and partly broken, illustrating the preferred mode of construction of my 1mproved coupling. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, the left draw-head being cut Y away on the line a: Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 1s a bottom view. Fig. 5 is a front elevation. Fig. 6 is a broken side elevation of railway-cars to which my improved couplingV is applied, Fig. 7 is a front view of the car and coupling shown at the right hand side of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the coupling-pin.

Similar parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughoutall the views.

A represents the draw-head, which externally is made of the usual form but has two internal recesses or cavities a, a insteadof the single one ordinarily provided.

B is the draw-bar, also of the usual shape, except the tail end which is made narrow and slotted longitudinally, as at b, to provide for the insertion and play ofy a cross-bolt C to which the back spring D is attached.

E is the link, which is adapted to enter the recesses a, in the opposite draw-heads and is somewhat loosely tted therein to insure ease of action during the various moves of the cars, especially in rounding curves. This link is wedge shaped, as shown at Fig. 1, that is to say is thicker at one end than at the other, so that, beingheavier at the thick end, it will remain constantly in a level position ready for coupling, if care'be taken to uncouple it at the thin end.

lThe coupling-pin, F, is preferably made round and provided with lateral projections or lugs ff at the point, that is at its lower end. It is inserted intoholes G G G2, the rst bored or formed through the upperpart of the draw-head, the second through the partition separating the recesses d a', and the third through the lower part of the drawhead. These holes have each .four supplemental oppositely-placed grooves g cutout in their sides for the lugs f of the coupling-pin to pass through, but only two of these grooves reach up to the upper margin of the top hole G as shown by full lines in Fig. 2, the dotted lines at right angles thereto indicating that the two grooves they represent'do not reach clear up -to the outside but are stopped up at thesurface.` lThe object of this construction is to provide for the retention of the pin within the draw-head after insertion. By giving it a half-turn after it has been inserted, it may work up and down but cannot come clear out, since the lugs thereon no longer register with the outwardly-opening grooves. By preference, the grooves through which the lugs of the pin are destined to work are made deeper than the other, especially at the bottom of the draw-head, as shown at Fig. 4, the idea being to allow the coupling-pin to yplay freely within them. The pin is raised preparatory to coupling byv means of a substantially Z-shaped lever H, the central part or stem of which forms a rocking-shaft and is journaled in a bearing t' on a post or rod I whose lower end fits loosely in the eye of at bracket .I projecting from the end of the car and upon the top of which the lever oscillates. The inner end of the lever is slotted at hand engaged with a clevis K pivotally secured to the head of the coupling-pin. The peculiar form of the lever throws back its outer end IOO,

conveniently close to the outer front edge of the car where it can be reached by a brakeman or other person intrusted with the care of coupling, so that the raising of the pin can be eifected without going between the cars and need not be done by hand. Besides, 0W- ing to the mode of attachment provided and the way the supporting post is tted, the lever is allowed the desired freedom of action and movement without exerting any strain or ill edect upon the coupling-pin. The lever is so balanced that the pin drops down of its own weight when ready for coupling, that is when allV the parts are in proper position. The opposite coupling-pins have, by preference, theirlevers running outwardly in opposite directions, so that the uncoupling maybe accomplished on either side of a train of cars, if needed.

In order to keep the pin raised until such time as it is desired to have the coupling effected I make use of a stop L, which consists ot' a plate having a central hole Z with lateral grooves Z similar to and adapted to register with the holes Gr G G2 and the grooves g. This plate is made to fit in the recess a into which it slides longitudinally. It is heated before inserting and after it has been inserted its rear end is bent upwardly as shown at Figs. l and 6 so as to project into and engage with a slot or mortise M made in the upper part of the draw-head, back of the coupling-pin. Thus arranged the platemay slide back and forth in the draw-head but is prevented from coming out by the bend at its rear end. It is, however, controlled in its movements by a spring N located in a chamber a2 formed in back of the recess ct. This spring drives itoutward when the couplingpin is raised, in such a position that the hole Zand grooves Z' no longer register with the corresponding holes and grooves of the drawhead and the pin is therefore prevented by the plate from dropping back to the place it previously occupied in the draw-head and through the link, after the lever is released. The pin then stands in the position illustrated at the right-hand side of Figs. 1 and 6. The coupling is automatically effected bythe impact of one draw-head against the other, which forces back the plate L its full length into the draw-head, as represented at the lefthand side of Figs. l and 6. The spring N is thereby compressed, the holes Z and G G G2 and grooves'l and g register once more, and the pin is then free to drop down through the draw-head and the link projecting into it.

O represents a lid which I provide forcovering the chamber a2 and the spring therein, to keep the same free from the effects of the weather, especially in cold countries Where the fall of snow or formation of ice might interfere with the proper working of the spring and the stop actuated thereby. Thislid may be made in any suitable shape and secured to the draw-head in any suitable manner. In the present instance it has been represented as hinged to a boss or curb a3 bordering the opening through which the coupling-pin enters the draw-head. It cornes down and fits over a rim or raised border P formed around the outer edge of the mortise or slot M.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The combination of a draw-head having a hole with side grooves, a coupling-pin provided with lugs sliding through said hole and grooves, and stops in some of said grooves whereby the said pin can be prevented from being withdrawn from said hole in certain positions, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination ofadraw-head provided with an open chamber, a coupling-pin, a stop for said pin, a spring bearing upon said stop and resting within said chamber, and a hinged lid covering said stop and spring, substantially as set forth;

3. The combination of a draw-head, a coupling-pin, a clevis pivotally secured to the head of said pin, a substantially Z-shaped lever oscillating in a vertical plane and having a slotted end engaged by said clevis, a post affording a` fulcrum for said lever oscillating in a horizontal plane, and a bracket on which said post is supported and free to turn, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN BONNANS. LL. s]

Witnesses:

R. R. STRAIN, JAS. A. REED. 

